Belt buckle



Feb. 10. 1925. 1,526,090

. s. M. RIKER BELT BUCKLE Filed July 5, 1924 IN V EN TOR.

Afa/muelliilzz'lfer Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

SAMUE L IVL- BIKER, OF CHESTER, NEW JERSEY.

V BELT BUCKLE.

Application filed July 3,

T all whom/it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. BIKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chester, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt Buckles; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the in ,vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to tongueless or clamp type belt buckles; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to improvements in belt buckles of the general type and character shown and described in my. prior United States Letters Patent No. 1,439,528 and No. 1,439,529, dated respectively December 19th, 1922, and in which a clamp" plate is caused to bite or grip a belt body by the action of a pivoted cam lever to which the stationary end of the belt is attached.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide improvements in the clamp-plate and in the cam lever for actuating the same, whereby a more efficient biting action of said clan'ip-plate against a belt body is obtained, and whereby the strains or tension of a belt, as it encircles the waist of the wearer, will tend to increase the biting grip of the clamp-plate.

This invention has for a further object to provide a novel cooperative relation between the clamp-plate and cam lever, whereby the former is so engaged by the latter that all tendency thereof to spring, flex or bend under strain is obstructed by the' cam lever parts, so that the operative efficiency of the clamp-plate is not defeated, and at the same timethe cam lever and clamp-plate are interlocked together when in operative relation, with the clampplate exercising its gripping or biting effect upon thebelt body.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

lfith the various objects of this invention in view the same consists, primarily, in the novel improved construction of belt buckle hereinafter set forth; and the invention con 1924. Serial No. 723,927.

sists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts as well as in the details of the con struction of the same, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the claims appended thereto.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an edge elevation of the novel buckle with a belt body attached thereto, and showing the free end of the belt body operativelyengaged pr gripped by the same; Fig ure 2 1s a rear face view of the same; Figure Sis a longitudinal section, taken on line 3-3 in said Figure 2, and drawn on an enlarged scale; Figure 4c is another longitudinal section, taken 011 line ls-4 in said Figure 2, and also drawn on an enlarged scale; Figure 5 is a transverse section, taken on line 5-5 in Figure 3; Figure 6 is another transverse section, taken on line 6-G in said F igure 3; Figure 7 is an enlarged detail plan view showing the outward side of the novel clamp-plate; and Figure 8 is an enlarged detail plan view showing the inward side of the novel cam lever.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all ,of the hereinabove described views'to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the present improved construction of belt buckle comprises a main body consisting of a face or front plate 9 (curved longitudinally as shown or of any other desired conformation), side flanges 10 springing rearwardly from the longitudinal margins of said face or front-plate, and inwardly bent keeper flanges 11 connected with the rearward portions of said side flanges to lie in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced rearwardly from the plane of said face or front plate. The forward portions of said side flanges are extended to provide perforate bearing ears 12.

Pivotally connected between said bearing ears 12 is a cam lever, the same com prising a transverse bar 13, having at its respective ends journal portions 14, which are respectively journaled in said respective bearing cars 12, so that said transverse bar extends therebetween and spaced rearwardly from the back of said face or front plate 9. integrally connected with said transverse bar 13 is a lever loop provided by the side arms 15 and the cross-bar 16 which interconnects the free ends of said side arms. The fixed end 17 of the belt is looped around the cross-bar 16 and thus operatively secured to the lever loop of the cam-lever. Integrally connected with said transverse bar 13, so as to spring from the outward or rearward margin of the same intermediate the side arms 15, is a cam member 18 which is doubled forwardly upon itself to position its free end portion over the inward or forward margin of said transverse bar 13, thus providing a cam surface eccentrically offset relative to the pivotal axis of the cam lever. Adjacent to the free end portion of the cam member 18, so as to be disposed in a portion of the operative face thereof is a grooved or channeled seat 19 extending across said face.

The reference character 20 indicates a clamp plate which is disposed for movement intermediate the back of said face or front plate 9 and the above described cam lever. Said clamp plate 20 is provided at its respective side margins, intermediate its forward and rearward transverse or end margins, with rearwardly or outwardly extending slotted ears 21 which are engaged over the journal portions l l of the cam lever intermediate the ends of the transverse bar 13 of said earn lever and the side flanges 10 of said face or front plate of the buckle body, thus floatingly supporting said clamp plate 20 for movement toward and away from the back of said face or front plate of the buckle body. Said clamp plate 20 is further provided at its respective side margins, adjacent to its rearward transverse or end margin, with inwardly extended combined supporting and fulcrum lugs 22, the free ends of which bear against the back of the buckle body face or front plate 9, so as to not only support the rearward transverse margin of the clamp plate spaced away from the back of said buckle body face or front plate, to thus facilitate the passing of the free end portion 23 of the belt operatively between the latter and said clamp-plate, but also so as to serve as a fulcrum for the operative swing of the clamp-plate, when the same is actuated by the cam lever, to thereby permit the forward transverse biting margin of said clamp-plate to be moved into operative engagement with the free end portion 23 of the belt, when the latter is engaged between the face or front plate 9 and clamp plate 20. The forward transverse or end margin of the clamp plate is inwardly turned or bent to form a plurality of biting or gripping portions, the same comprising cen ter biting portion 24 and outer biting portions 25, the latter being respectively located on either side of said center biting portion.

The outer or rearward side of said clamp plate is provided, adjacent to said center biting portion 24, with a raised or outwardly pressed nosing 26. Formed in the body of said clamp-plate, parallel to and in the rear of said nosing 26, is a transversely extending lock rib 27 with which the grooved or channeled seat 19 of the cam member 18 is designed to cooperate, when the said cam member is moved into actuating engagement with said clamp-plate. The said nosing 26 and lock ribQZ, aside from their mechanical functions serve also to reenforce or stiffen the clamp plate against distortion. Said clamp plate is further provided, adj acent to each side margin thereof, with longitudinal outwardly pressed inclined ribs 28, the same forming inclined planes rising toward the rear end of said clamp plate. EX- tending between the rearward ends of said inclined ribs 28 is a transverse reenforcing rib 29, which further stiffens the clamp plate against distortion. Said transverse bar 13 of the cam lever is provided, adjacent to each end of its inward or forward margin, so as to be respectively located on either side of the free end portion of the cam member 18, with inwardly projecting pressure lugs or extensions 30, which are adapted to cooperate with the inclined ribs 28 of the clamp plate when the cam lever is moved into actuating engagement with the latter.

lVhen the cam lever is swung outwardly relative to the back of the buckle body face or front plate 9, the cam member and the pressure lugs or extensions 30 are moved away from the clamp plate, thus freeing the latter from operative clan'iping engagen'ient with the free end portion 23 of the belt, leaving the same but loosely engaged by the clamping plate so that it may be inserted or withdrawn from the buckle.

W hen fastening the belt around the waist of the wearer, the free end portion 23 thereof is inserted between the side flanges 1.0 to pass forwardly through the space intermediate the face or front plate 9 and the keeper flanges 11, and thence beneath the clamp plate 20, the latter at the time being released from operative engagement of the rain lever therewith. It will be evident that, since the clamp plate 20 is floatingly supported by its slotted cars 21 so as to be more or less bodily movable toward or away from the back of the face or front plate 9, said clamp plate 20 will readily adjust itself to the end portion of the belt according to the degree of thickness of a given belt; this is of advantage for the reason that belt bodies or straps frequently vary more or less in thickness. It therefore follows that the clamping action or mechanism of the buckle is initially self adjustable to the particular belt body employed therewith.

After the belt portion 23 has been inthereby turning the cam member 18 on its plvotal connection to cause the same to operatively cooperate with the forward end of the clamp plate 20, so that its biting portions 24: and are forced into gripping relation tothe belt portion 23. Vi hen the cam lever movement is completed, the channeled seat 19 of the cam member 18 will spring or snap over the lock rib 27 of the clamp plate, so that a mutual interlocking of-the cam member and clamp plate is produced, which tends to resist accidental releasing movement of the cam member. As the cam member 18 is thus swung into actuating relation to the clamp-plate, the same engages the nosing 26 of the latter,

thus pressing into firm gripping relation to the belt portion 23 the center biting portion 24 and preventing any outward yielding or springing of the center biting portion 24 away from the belt; at the same time the pressure lugs or extensions of the cam lever are carried into operative engagement with the inclined ribs 28 at the respective sides of the clamp plate, thus firmly holding and inwardly pressing the side portions of the clamp-plate, to thereby not only assist in forcing the side biting portions .15 into firm gripping relation 'to the belt portion 23, but also preventing any r outward yielding or springing of said side Y biting portions 25 away from the belt. The

cooperation of the cam member 18 with the nosing 26 of the clamp plate is such, that the longitudinal strain on the belt, due to the tension produced by its encircling of the waist of the wearer,.tends to swing the cam lever inwardly to cause the cam member 18 to forcibly press against the nosing 26 with a pressure increased proportionately to the amount of belt tension, and consequently the center biting portion 24 bites or grips all the harder as the tensional strain on the belt increases, thus guarding against any slipping or withdrawing of the clamp engaged belt end 23; and, in a similar manner, the cooperation of the pressure lugs or extensions 30 with the inclined ribs 28 of the clamp plate is such, that the longitudinal strain on the belt, tending to operatively turn or swing the cam lever on its pivotal connection, causes said pressure lugs or extensions 30 to ride further up on the inclined ribs with a consequent stronger and firmer depression of the clamp plate by pressure exerted adjacent to its sides, which pres sure also increases porportionately to the amount of belt tension, so that the side biting portions 25 bite or grip all the harder the tensional strain on the belt increases, thus further guarding against slipping or withdrawing of the clamp engaged belt end 23.

From the above description it will be clearly evident that I have provided a novel construction of cooperating clamp plate and cam lever, which is exceedingly strong;

which operatively grips the engaged belt end in a manner to offer increasing resistance to withdrawing strains, while at the same time firmly bracing the clamp plate against bending or distortion when in use; and, finally, which provides a construction which readily adapts itself operatively to belt bodies of various thicknesses.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as described in said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim i 1. The combination with a buckle body having a face-plate of a pivoted cam lever to receive the attachment of the fixed end of a belt, a clamp plate floatingly supported intermediate said cam lever and said face plate, said clamp plate having belt gripping means at its for 'ard end, and means adjacent to the rearward end of said clamp plate adapted to engage said face plate to both space the rearward end of said clamp plate away from said face plate to permit the insertion of the free end portion of a belt therebetween and at the same time'establish a fulcrum for the swinging movement of the belt gripping end of said clamp plate toward the inserted belt portion when the clamp plate is actuated by said cam lever.

'2. The combination with a buckle body having a face plate of a pivoted cam lever to receive the attachment of the fixed end of a belt, a clamp plate floatingly supported intermediate said cam lever and said face plate, said clamp plate having belt gripping means at its forward end, means adjacent to the rearward end of said clamp plate adapted to engage said face plate to both space the rearward end of said clamp plate away from said face plate to permit the insertion of the free end portion of a belt thercbetween and at the same time establish a fulcrum for the swinging movement of the belt gripping end of said clamp plate toward the inserted belt portion when the clamp plate is actuated by said cam lever, and means mutually associated with said plate having at its sides slotted ears engaged over said journal portions of said cam means to floatingly support said clamp plate intermediate said face plate and said cam means, said clamp plate having belt "gripping means at its forward end, an

means adjacent to the rearward end of said clamp plate adapted to engage said face plate to both space the rearward end of said clamp plate away from said face plate to permit the insertion of the free end portion of a belt therebetween and at the same time establish a fulcrum for the swinging movement of the belt gripping end of said clamp plate toward the inserted belt portion when the clamp plate is actuated by said cam member.

4-. The combination with a buckle body having a face plate and side flanges, of a cam means having an actuating lever loop to receive the attachment of the fixed end of a belt, said cam means having journal portions pivoted in said sine flanges, aelamp plate having at its sides slotted ears engaged over said journal portions of said cam means to floatingly support said clamp plate intermediate said face plate and said cam means, said clamp plate having belt gripping means at its forward end, means aojacent to the rearward end of said clamp plate adapted to engage said face plate to both space the rearward end of said clamp plate away from said face plate to permit the insertion of the free end portion of a belt therebetween and at the same time.

1 establish a fulcrmn for the swinging movement of the belt gripping end of said clamp plate toward the inserted belt portion when the clamp plate is actuated by said cam member, and means mutually associated with said clamp plate and said cam means to interlock the same in operative relation one to the other.

5. The combination with a buckle body having a face plate and side flanges, of a cam means having an actuating lever loop to receive the attachment of the lined end of a belt, said cam means having journal portions pivoted in said side flanges, a clamp plate having at its sides slotted ears engaged over said journal portions of said cam means to lioatingly support said clamp plate intermediate said face plate and said cam means, said clamp plate having at its forward end belt biting means, said clamp plate having adjacent to its belt biting means a raised nosing engageable by said. cam means, and combined spacing and fulcrum lugs springing from the sides of said clamp plate adjacent to its rear end to em gage said face plate.

6. The combination with a buckle body having a face plate and side flanges, of a cam means having an actuating lever loop to receive the attachment of the fixed end of a belt, said cam means having journalportions pivoted in said side flanges, a clamp plate having at its sides slotted ears engaged over said journal portions of said cam means to tloatingly support said clamp plate intermediate said face plate and said cam means, said clamp plate having at its forward end belt biting means, said clamp plate having adjacent to its belt biting means a raised nosing eugageable by said cam means, combined spacing and fulcrum lugs springing from the sides of saio clamp plate adjacent to its rear end to engage said face plate, and means mutually associated with said clamp plate and said cam means to interlock the same in operative relation one to the other.

7. The combination with a buckle body having a face plate and side flanges, of a cam means having an actuating lever loop to receive the attachment of the fixed end of a belt, said cam means having journal portions pivoted in said side flanges, a clamp plate having at its sides slotted ears engaged over said journal portions of said cam means to floatingly support said clamp plate intern'iediate said face plate and said cam means, said clamp plate having at its forward end belt biting means, said clamp plate having adjacent to its forward end a centrally and transversely disposed raised nosing engageable by said cam member, said clamp plate being further provided adjacent to each side with longitudinal inclined ribs, said cam means having pressure lugs to cooperate with said inclined ribs, and com bined spacing and fulcrum lugs springing from the sides of said clamp plate adjacent to its rear end to engage said face plate.

8. The combination with a buckle body having a face plate and side flanges, of a cam m ans having an actuating lever loop to receive the attachment of the lived end of a belt, said cam means having journal portions pivoted in said side flanges, a clamp plate having at its sides slotted ears engaged over said journal portions of said cam means to floatingly support said clamp plate intermediate said face plate and said cam means, said clamp plate having at its forward end belt biting means, said clamp plate having adjacent to its forward end a centrally and transversely disposed raised nosing engageable by said cam means, said clamp plate being further provided adjacent to each side with longitudinal inclined ribs,

said cam means having pressure lugs to cooperate with said inclined ribs, combined spacing and fulcrum lugs springing from the sides of said clamp plate adjacent to its rear end to engage said face plate, and means mutally associated with said clamp plate and said cam means to interlock the same in operative relation one to the other.

9. The combination with a buckle body having a face plate and side flanges, of a cam means having an actuating lever loop to receive the attachment of the fixed end of a belt, said cam means having journal portions pivoted in said side flanges, a clampplate having at its sides slotted ears engaged over said journal portions of said cam means to floatingly support said clamp plate intermediate said face plate and said cam means, said clamp plate having at its for Ward end belt biting means, said clamp plate being provided adjacent to each side with longitudinal inclined ribs, said cam means having pressure lugs to cooperate with said inclined ribs, and combined spacing and fulcrum lugs springing from the sides of said clamp plate adjacent to its rear end to engage said face plate.

10. The combination with a buckle body having a face plate and side flanges, of a cam means having an actuating lever loop to receive the attachment of the fixed end of a belt, said cam means having journal portions pivoted in said side flanges, a clampplate having at its sides slotted ears engaged over said journal portions of said cam means to floatingly support said clamp plate intermediate said face plate and said cam means, said clamp plate having at its forward end belt biting means, said clamp plate being provided adjacent to each side with longitudinal inclined ribs, said cam means having pressure lugs to cooperate with said inclined ribs, combined spacing and fulcrum lugs springing from the sides of said clamp plate adjacent to its rear end to engage said face plate, and means mutually associated with said clamp plate and said cam means to interlock the same in operative relation one to the other.

11. The combination with a buckle body having a face plate of a pivoted cam means having an actuating lever loop to receive the attachment of the fixed end of a belt, a clamp-plate mounted between said cam means and face plate so as to be actuated by the former for movement toward the latter, a fulcrum means at the rear end of said clamp plate, belt biting means at the forward end of said clamp plate, said clamp plate being provided adjacent to each side with longitudinal inclined ribs, and said cam means having pressure lugs to cooperate with said inclined ribs.

12. The combinationwith a buckle body having a face plate of a pivoted cam means having an actuating lever loop to receive the attachment of the fixed end of a belt, a clamp-plate mounted between said cam means and face plate so as to be actuated by the former for movement toward the latter, a fulcrum means at the rear end of said clamp plate, belt biting means at the forward end of said clamp plate, said clamp plate being provided adjacent to each side with longitudinal inclined ribs, said cam means having pressure lugs to cooperate with said inclined ribs, and means mutually associated with said clamp plate and said cam means to interlock the same in operative relation one to the other.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of June, 1924.

SAMUEL M. BIKER. Witnesses:

GEORGE D. RICHARDS, FLORA MILLER. 

